Packing for the Mardi Himal Trek is a balancing act. The trail starts in warm, humid farmland near Pokhara and ends on an exposed ridge where frost covers the grass at dawn and the wind can cut through a thin jacket in seconds. You need enough warm clothing for High Camp and the Base Camp hike, but not so much that your bag becomes a burden on the steep stone steps.
This packing list is based on what our guides see working on the trail every season. It covers clothing, footwear, sleeping gear, bags, health supplies, documents and electronics, with notes on seasonal extras and what you can rent in Pokhara. Use it as a checklist, then adjust for your own needs and the time of year.
How to Think About Packing for Mardi Himal
Three features of the trek shape everything else on this list:
- A wide temperature range. Daytime walking in the lower forest can be warm, while nights at High Camp are usually below freezing and the Base Camp hike starts in the dark cold. Layering is the answer.
- Basic tea houses. Rooms are unheated and blankets are thin, so your sleeping bag and warm evening clothes do a lot of work.
- Short distances, steep gradients. The trek is short, so you do not need much, but the steep climbs and descents punish heavy packs.
If you are trekking with a porter, you will pack a duffel for the porter and a daypack for yourself. If not, you will carry everything, which makes keeping weight down even more important. Read carry your own pack or hire a porter? to help decide.
Clothing: The Layering System
The layering system lets you add and remove clothes as conditions change rather than carrying one heavy coat. For Mardi Himal you need four layers for your upper body:
Base Layers
- 2 short-sleeved or long-sleeved trekking tops in merino wool or synthetic fabric
- 1 thermal long-sleeved top for evenings and summit day
- 1 pair of thermal leggings for cold nights and the Base Camp hike
Avoid cotton, which stays wet with sweat and chills you when you stop. See merino vs synthetic base layers.
Mid Layers
- 1 fleece jacket or pullover
- Optionally, 1 lightweight synthetic insulated jacket or vest
Insulation
- 1 down or synthetic insulated jacket, warm enough for sitting still at 3,500 m in sub-zero temperatures
This is the most important item on the list for autumn, winter and early spring. Read do you need a down jacket for Mardi Himal?
Outer Shell
- 1 waterproof and windproof jacket with a hood
- Optionally, lightweight waterproof trousers, essential in the monsoon
Lower Body
- 2 pairs of trekking trousers, one of which can be convertible
- 1 pair of comfortable trousers or leggings for evenings in the lodge
Footwear
- Trekking boots: waterproof, broken-in, with good grip and ankle support. The steep descent to Siding and potential ice above High Camp make boots the safer choice for most people.
- Camp shoes: lightweight sandals or sneakers for the evenings.
- Socks: 3 to 4 pairs of trekking socks in merino or synthetic blend, plus 1 thick pair for sleeping and summit day.
- Liner socks: optional, but helpful if you are prone to blisters.
Never start a trek in brand-new boots. Walk at least 30 to 50 kilometers in them first. Our guide to choosing boots for Mardi Himal covers fit and features, and trail shoes vs boots discusses the lighter alternative.
Head, Hands and Eyes
- 1 warm hat or beanie
- 1 sun hat or cap with a brim
- 1 buff or neck gaiter, useful for dust, wind and sun
- 1 pair of lightweight liner gloves
- 1 pair of insulated gloves or mittens for summit day
- Sunglasses with UV protection, category 3 or 4 for snow
The sun at 4,500 meters is fierce even on cold days, and snow glare can cause painful eye damage. See sunglasses and eye protection.
Sleeping Gear
- Sleeping bag: rated to around minus 10 degrees Celsius comfort for autumn to spring. In the monsoon a lighter bag works.
- Sleeping bag liner: adds warmth and keeps your bag clean.
- Earplugs and an eye mask: tea house walls are thin.
Blankets are provided in every lodge, but at High Camp they are rarely enough on their own. Our sleeping bag guide explains temperature ratings.
Bags
- Daypack: 25 to 35 liters with a rain cover and a hip belt, for water, snacks, layers and camera.
- Duffel bag: soft, around 50 to 70 liters, for the porter to carry. Many agencies provide one.
- If carrying everything yourself: a 40 to 50 liter trekking backpack with a supportive hip belt.
- Dry bags or stuff sacks: to keep clothes and sleeping bag dry and organised.
Read what size backpack for Mardi Himal and porter duffel bags and weight limits for details.
Trekking Equipment
- Trekking poles: strongly recommended for the steep descents. They save your knees on the way down to Siding.
- Headlamp: essential for the pre-dawn Base Camp hike and night-time toilet trips. Bring spare batteries.
- Water bottles or a hydration bladder: capacity for at least 2 liters.
- Water purification: tablets, a filter or a UV pen.
- Microspikes: for winter or after late snow above High Camp.
See why and how to use trekking poles and when you need microspikes.
Health and Hygiene
- Personal first aid kit: plasters, blister dressings, painkillers, antiseptic, rehydration salts, any prescribed medication
- Sunscreen with high SPF and lip balm with sun protection
- Hand sanitiser and toilet paper
- Wet wipes, as showers are limited at higher camps
- Quick-dry towel
- Toothbrush, toothpaste and biodegradable soap
- Menstrual products if needed, and a way to carry used items out
Our first aid kit guide and toiletries list cover these in detail.
Documents and Money
- Passport and photocopies
- Nepal visa
- ACAP permit and TIMS card, usually carried by your guide
- Travel insurance details with emergency number
- Nepali rupees in cash, as there are no ATMs on the trail
Read documents to carry on the trek and how much cash to carry.
Electronics
- Phone with offline maps downloaded
- Power bank, around 10,000 to 20,000 mAh
- Charging cables and a plug adapter for Nepali sockets
- Camera and spare batteries, kept warm overnight
Charging is available in most lodges for a fee, but it can be unreliable at High Camp. See power banks and charging gear.
Snacks and Extras
- Energy bars, nuts, dried fruit and chocolate bought in Pokhara
- Electrolyte tablets or powder
- A book or e-reader for the evenings
- A small notebook and pen
- Playing cards
Seasonal Adjustments
| Season | Add | Can leave out |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | Warm gloves for summit day | Heavy rain gear in late autumn |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Microspikes, heavier down jacket, warmer sleeping bag, gaiters | Sun-only clothing |
| Spring (Mar–May) | Light layers for warm lower forest, rain shell for afternoon showers | Very heavy insulation in May |
| Monsoon (Jun–Aug) | Waterproof trousers, pack cover, leech socks, umbrella, extra dry bags | Heavy down jacket |
For more, read our winter packing list and monsoon packing list.
How Much Should Everything Weigh?
Weight is where most first-time trekkers go wrong. It is easy to pack for every possibility and end up with a bag that makes the stone staircases above Kande miserable. As a guide:
- With a porter: keep your duffel to around 8 to 10 kilograms, since one porter normally carries the bags of two trekkers, plus their own things. Your daypack should weigh around 4 to 6 kilograms with water.
- Without a porter: aim for 9 to 12 kilograms in total, including water. Above that, the steep sections become noticeably harder, and your knees will feel it on the way down.
The heaviest items are usually the sleeping bag, down jacket, boots and water. Wear your boots and heaviest layers on travel days, choose a compressible sleeping bag, and refill water at lodges rather than carrying a full day's supply from the start.
What Goes in Your Daypack and What Goes in the Duffel
If a porter is carrying your main bag, you will not see it until you reach the evening's lodge. The porter may also walk at a different pace from you. So your daypack needs to hold everything you might need during the day:
- Water and purification tablets
- Rain jacket and a warm layer, even on sunny mornings
- Sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm
- Snacks and some cash
- Small first aid kit and any personal medication
- Phone, camera and power bank
- Toilet paper and hand sanitiser
- Headlamp, since some days finish late in winter
Everything else, including sleeping bag, spare clothes and toiletries, goes in the duffel, packed inside a waterproof liner. Our guide to packing your daypack when a porter carries your bag has more tips, and how to pack a backpack explains weight distribution if you are carrying everything.
Items Our Guides Wish Every Trekker Brought
Ask a Mardi Himal guide what trekkers most often forget, and the same few items come up:
- Warm gloves. Thin liner gloves are not enough for the pre-dawn climb to Base Camp in autumn, winter or early spring.
- A proper headlamp. Phone torches drain batteries fast in the cold and leave you with one hand free on steep ground.
- Trekking poles. Many people skip them and regret it on the 1,400-meter descent to Siding.
- A sit mat or spare fleece. Waiting for sunrise at the Upper View Point means sitting on frozen ground.
- Blister care. A few pieces of blister tape applied at the first hot spot can save the trek.
- A thermos or insulated bottle. Hot water from the lodge stays warm for the summit hike and does not freeze.
Buying Gear at Home or in Nepal?
There is no single right answer. Buying at home gives you time to test gear, return items that do not fit and choose trusted brands. Buying or renting in Nepal saves luggage space and money, and it makes sense for items you will use only on this trek, such as a heavy down jacket or a sleeping bag. As a rule of thumb, bring the items where fit and reliability matter most, such as boots, socks, base layers and your daypack, and consider renting the bulky insulation. Kathmandu's Thamel district and Pokhara's Lakeside both have a wide choice. Our guide to buying gear in Pokhara and Kathmandu explains what to look for and how to spot poor-quality copies.
What You Can Rent or Buy in Pokhara
If you are traveling light, Pokhara's Lakeside district has dozens of shops that rent and sell trekking gear. Down jackets, sleeping bags and trekking poles are easy to rent by the day at modest prices. You can also buy locally made fleeces, gloves, hats and buffs cheaply. Quality varies widely, so inspect zips, check the fill of down gear and try things on. Boots are the exception: bring your own broken-in pair. See renting trekking gear in Pokhara.
Packing for the 3-Day Short Trek
If you are doing the 3-day version, you can trim the list further. You spend only two nights on the trail, so one spare base layer, two pairs of socks and a single pair of trekking trousers are enough. The cold-weather essentials stay the same, because you still sleep at High Camp and start the Base Camp hike before dawn. Since the days are long, a comfortable daypack and good snacks matter even more. Our packing list for the 3-day trek strips everything back to the essentials.
What Not to Pack
Leave jeans, cotton T-shirts, heavy toiletries, multiple pairs of shoes and valuable jewellery at your hotel. Most hotels in Pokhara and Kathmandu will store extra luggage for free or for a small fee while you trek. Our list of what not to pack goes further.
Packing for a Trek with Us
When you book with us, we send a packing checklist tailored to your season and itinerary, and your guide checks your gear at the pre-trek briefing in Pokhara. Porters are available as an add-on, with one porter usually carrying for two trekkers. Whether you choose the 5-day Mardi Himal Trek from Pokhara or the 3-day Short Mardi Himal Trek, a well-packed bag makes the steep climbs lighter and the cold nights warmer.